By Simeon Shodimu
Younger Agribusiness Owners awarded N10 million by BATNF as winners of its 2025 flagship Farmers for the Future (F4F)
The British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) has awarded N10 million to winners of its 2025 flagship Farmers for the Future (F4F) Programme as part of its contributions to boosting productivity in the agricultural sector and to make farming a viable business to young Nigerians.
The awards were presented during the biennial Agribusiness Dialogue Session held in Lagos recently, which explored the theme ‘Is the Smallholder Farmer Finance-able?’
To shift the perception of agriculture from a last resort to a viable and scalable business opportunity, the Farmers for the Future initiative was launched in partnership with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to inspire and empower young Nigerians.
Speaking on the significance of the initiative, Oludare Odusanya, general manager of the BATN Foundation, emphasised that the programme is about reimagining the role of young people in agriculture.
“The vision of Farmers for the Future is to show young Nigerians that agriculture is not just survival; it is innovation, enterprise, and opportunity,” he said.
“By supporting youth with the right financing, mentorship, and networks, we are building a new generation of agripreneurs who will drive food security, create jobs, and power Nigeria’s economic diversification,” Odusanya added.
According to him, the winners represent the resilience, creativity, and ambition that the programme was designed to nurture.
He disclosed that following a transparent and rigorous selection process, six outstanding agripreneurs emerged as winners of the competition. Daniel Akogwu Jacob of Aretecom Limited emerged as the top winner, securing N3 million to scale his venture.
Similarly, Emmanuel Mary of Zibah Foods and Akinloye John of Geentead Farm NG were both named second-place winners, each receiving N2 million in funding support for their ventures.
While third place was shared by three innovative entrepreneurs: Ikhahon Robinson of Heabron Farm Limited, Adetuberu Sikeade of Lycos Nutrients Enterprises, and Haruna Godwin of Yaroson Agro Business, who were each awarded N1 million.
Beyond financial support, Odusanya noted that the winners will benefit from capacity building, business development guidance, and inclusion in the F4F alumni community, giving them continued exposure and access to partnerships long after the competition..
Since its launch, the F4F programme has demonstrated significant impact. Past winners, such as Pemnia Wellness, have leveraged their grants to move from prototype to market, secure regulatory approvals, expand product lines, and engage women farmers in their supply chains.
“These success stories reinforce BATNF’s belief that supporting youth is one of the surest ways to strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural sector,” he said.
It is hoped thatthw funds will be channeled rightly to enhance private sector participation in agribusiness, while more of such private sector led initiatives are encouraged to bolster agricultural growth and encourage young individuals to venture into agriculture.
